Chapter 17 say "face"

"Face" is what we often hear in conversations, because it seems to be understood immediately, so there are probably not many people who think about it carefully. But recently, these two sounds have sometimes been heard from the mouths of foreigners, and they seem to be studying them.They think that this matter is very difficult to understand, but it is the program of the Chinese spirit. As long as they grasp this, it is like pulling out the braid twenty-four years ago, and the whole body will follow it.According to legend, during the Qing Dynasty, foreigners went to the Zongli Yamen to ask for benefits, and they were so frightened that the high officials agreed, but when they left, they were sent out through the side gate.If you don't let him go the right way, it means that he has no face; since he has no face, it means that China has face, which means he has the upper hand.Whether this is true or not, I am not sure, but quite a few of the "Chinese and foreign people" know this story.

Therefore, I suspect that they want to give us "face". But what is "face" all about?It's okay if you don't want to, but when you think about it, you feel confused.It seems that there are several kinds, and each kind of social status has a kind of "face", which is the so-called "face".This "face" has a boundary line, if it falls below this line, it means losing face, also called "losing face".If you are not afraid of "losing face", you are "shameless".But if you do something beyond this line, you will "have face", or "show your face".The way of "losing face" varies from person to person. For example, it is not a big deal for a coachman to sit on the side of the road and catch lice.But the coachman is not without "face", but it is not "lost" at this time. If he wants to kick his wife, he will lie down and cry, which is his "lost face".This law of "losing face" also applies to superior people.From this point of view, it seems that upper-class people have more chances of "losing face", but it is not necessarily true. For example, if a coachman steals a purse and is discovered, he loses face, while the upper-class people make a lot of money Treasures, but it doesn't seem to be "disgraceful", and there is also "investigation abroad" [2], which is a good way to change your appearance.

Everyone wants "face", of course it can be said to be a good thing, but "face" is really a bit strange.The "Shenbao" on September 30 told us a piece of news: Luo Lihong, a professional carpenter in Huxi, who was the head of the big bag, went to the funeral for his mother and invited Wang Shubao and his wife who opened the "bugware shop" to help. At that time, the well-known Wang Daocai, nicknamed Sanxizi, also came to attend the funeral. He failed to fight to wear white clothes, thinking it would be disrespectful, and harboring resentment in his heart...invited dozens of disciples, each holding an iron rod, and it is said that some even held pistols. There were many people who beat Wang Shubao's family, and there was a fierce battle between the two sides at one time, and many people were seriously injured..." White clothes are worn by relatives who have clothes, and now they have to "compete for wear" and "failure" ", which shows that they are not relatives, but they thought it was "disgraceful", and it turned into such a big battle.At this time, it seems that as long as there is some difference from the ordinary, it is "face-saving", but you can completely ignore what you have become.This kind of temper is unavoidable for "gentlemen and businessmen": when Yuan Shikai [3] was about to proclaim himself emperor, someone listed his name on the list of persuasion to "have face"; when a country withdrew its troops from Qingdao [4], Some people take it as "face" to be listed on the Wanmin Umbrella.

Therefore, it can be said that "face" is not necessarily a good thing-but I am not saying that people should be "shameless".It is difficult to speak now. If you advocate "non-filial piety", some people will say that you are inciting to beat parents, and if you advocate equality between men and women, some people will say that you are advocating promiscuity-this statement is absolutely indispensable. Moreover, it can be difficult to distinguish between "saving face" and "shameless".Isn't there a joke?A gentleman is rich and powerful, I assume he is called the Four Masters, and people are proud to be able to talk to him.There was a little bastard who liked to show off, and one day he happily told others: "The Four Great Masters have spoken to me!" People asked him, "What did you say?" They replied, "I was standing at his door, and the Four Great Masters came out. , said to me: Get out of here!" Of course, this is a joke, and it describes this person as "shameless", but in himself, he thinks that he "has face". Have face".Many other people, didn't the four masters not even tell him "get lost"?

In Shanghai, although "eating foreign ham" [5] is not "face-worthy", it is not "disgraceful". ". It is good for the Chinese to want "face", but it is a pity that this "face" is a "circular mechanism" [6] and is good at change, so it is confused with "shameless".Hasegawa said so casually about "Root Spring" [7]: "The gentlemen of ancient times hated their names and did not drink them, but today's gentlemen change their names and drink them." secret. October 4th. CC [1] This article was originally published in the second issue of the monthly magazine "Manga Life" in Shanghai in October 1934.

〔2〕 "Investigation abroad" When the old warlords and politicians lost power or were frustrated, they often used "investigation abroad" as a means of temporarily retiring and waiting for an opportunity to come back.Some of them didn't really "go abroad" and only used this sentence to save face. [3] Yuan Shikai (1859-1916), courtesy name Weiting, was born in Xiangcheng, Henan.He was originally the governor of Zhili in the Qing Dynasty, the minister of Beiyang, and the prime minister of the cabinet.After the Revolution of 1911, he stole the presidency of the Republic of China.In January 1916, the monarchy was restored, and he called himself "Emperor Hongxian"; in March of the same year, he was forced to abolish the monarchy during the national condemnation, and died of illness in June.

〔4〕A country withdrew its troops from Qingdao. It refers to the withdrawal of the Japanese troops occupying Qingdao in December 1922. [5] "Eating foreign ham" is an old Shanghai saying, which means being kicked by foreigners. 〔6〕The method of "circular machine work method" adapting to changing circumstances. "Circular machine", see "Zhuangzi Robber Zhi" for the phrase: "If it is not true, hold on to the circular machine." According to Cheng Xuanying's note in the Tang Dynasty: "The circular machine is still in the ring; hold the way in the ring to answer right and wrong. "

[7] Hasegawa Rushishixian (1875-1969) Japanese critic.Author of Criticism of Modern Society, Character of Japan, etc.It was originally a Chinese story not to drink from the stolen spring. See the second volume of "Zizi" (edited by Zhang Zongyuan in the Qing Dynasty): "Confucius... is too stealing from the spring. He is thirsty and does not drink. He hates its name." According to "Water "Jing Zhu": Robbery spring came out of Biancheng (now east of Sishui County, Shandong Province) in the shade of Bianshan Mountain in the northeast.